WordPress
Overview
One of the classic platforms for blogging and online content creation, WordPress comes in two distinct flavors: proprietary software customized by the user but independently hosted and managed, or the free variant hosted by the company that allows bloggers and publishers to create nearly unlimited content. The proprietary software can be downloaded for free, and a basic web site can be created and operational online within a few short minutes.Installation
WordPress is a cinch to set up. You can either legally download the files online, or else sign up with a host that features WordPress as a pre-installed option. Whichever route content creators choose, they can usually install a fresh copy of WordPress onto almost any web hosting server with ease, the entire process usually taking less than half an hour.Ease of Use & Benefits
The basic package of WordPress is a snap to set up, and then users get to choose which amongst thousands of "plug-ins" to use. Each of these separate software accessories gives an online blog or website special abilities or functions, adding to the enrichment of the viewer's experience every time they visit. While some "plug-ins" cost money, tens of thousands are offered free by the large online global community of WordPress programmers. Since the plug-ins are designed to live up to their name, they do not require any special programming to use and operate, thus empowering even beginners to WordPress to design powerful interactive experiences for their customers.Joomla!
While far more powerful than such basic vanilla platforms as WordPress, the powerful code underlying Joomla! is entirely free and open-source, supported by an enthusiastic community of supporters and programmers around the world.Overview
Joomla! bills itself as a Content Management System, written in PHP to allow users to publish blogs, create news sites, and otherwise use this very flexible system to create a dynamic user experience for visitors. Although the designers admit there is a bit of a learning curve to mastering Joomla!, this free and open-source platform is second only to WordPress in global popularity.Installation
Because Joomla! is entirely free and open source, it is available from a multitude of sources online, including at the organization's official website. It should take experienced users 10 minutes or less to install Joomla! and get a site up and running.Ease of Use & Benefits
Thousands of plug-ins now exist for Joomla!, helping make the learning curve a little less steep, as navigating around Joomla! for beginners can sometimes be a daunting challenge. Once you've mastered the fundamentals of Joomla!, however, creating powerful website experiences for visitor can be done quickly and easily.Joomla! uses a custom system to generate "good-looking" URL hyperlinks that are easy to read and have sensical names. This makes it easier to share and distribute your content, a vital advantage in the competitive social media and SEO rankings. A very active discussion board online lets experts answer questions, giving beginners an invaluable tool to help design professional and engaging websites.
Drupal
Often known as the platform for experts, Drupal is a free and open-source framework for content publishing, written in PHP.Overview
Drupal's principle product is known as the Drupal core, which contains the essential basic features used on all Drupal web sites. The Drupal Core allows anyone to quickly and efficiently design powerful interactive experiences for their online visitors.Installation
Installation is simple, easy and free. Although the basic software is simple to install, it will take a significant learning curve before a beginner to Drupal will be able to have an active, functioning site online. During the installation process, Drupal will allow users to load a pre-defined configuration for different types of sites.Ease of Use & Benefits
It takes a while to get the hang of all of the powerful functions and features in Drupal, but once you understand what you are doing, the sky is the limit. Drupal has a very enthusiastic support community online that often offers designs, plug-ins and advice for free.One of Drupal's many benefits is that it allows you to quickly organize and find content. The system is designed to make simple, intuitive URL links for visitors and site managers to organize and follow.
Infographic by: makeawebsitehub